Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses

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An historical survey: undertakers and cemeteries in the Carlton area

Thorp, Richard G. ( 1967-09)

Research for this thesis was made particularly difficult by the almost complete lack of authenticated information. Early Melbourne directories, themselves either incomplete or challengeable did give some indication to the names and number of early funeral directors - or undertakers, as they were known then. Facts, or statements as close to fact as possible, have had to be cross-referenced through a series of tape-recorded interviews. To add to research difficulty, a surprisingly large number of Funeral Directors refused to speak in any way, either historically or specifically, about their trade. Even those Directors who would speak freely admitted that all old records have been destroyed; particularly Sleight’s and J.D. Lewis, two of the oldest establishments close to Carlton. It has been found that few Undertakers had their headquarters (only branches) in Carlton, and in an attempt to gain their history in depth, Undertakers in the suburbs approximate to Carlton have been studied. (For complete synopsis open document)